Wimbledon Adopts Video Challenge System This Season.
Wimbledon will follow the US and Australian Opens in implementing replay systems.
Video review technology will make its debut at The Championships for the 2025 edition.
Competitors are granted the ability to challenge certain rulings from the chair umpire, echoing the protocol already in operation at both the US Open and the Australian Open.
This technology will be operational on the main stadium and the number one court throughout the tournament and on the remaining featured courts when they are hosting singles contests.
This move comes just a season following the All England Club introduced electronic line calling, which terminated the longstanding tradition of line judges.
Reviewable Decisions
Players cannot to challenge the call of the electronic line calling, but they can request the official to re-examine specific situations, such as:
- If a tennis ball has double-bounced.
- If a shot touched an opponent's racquet or person during play.
- Potential hindrance end of a point.
Notably, there will be no limit on the amount of reviews a competitor can ask for.
Practical Application
A recent example took place in a recent tournament last week, where a top player used the review system against Jack Draper.
Draper admitted it was a difficult call for the umpire, but believed his opponent had "played the rules effectively."
The umpire viewed a video and ruled the player was guilty of hindrance, awarding the point to Medvedev.
Growing Trend
This technology are not exclusive to Grand Slams. The system has been in use at the US Open for two years and the Australian Open this year.
Furthermore, it is becoming more common on the WTA circuit, and by next season the men's ATP Tour will have the system implemented at every one of its tournaments.
Additional Innovations
Another change at Wimbledon 2025 involves the addition of visual indicators on displays to complement the verbal announcements from the ELC system.
This addresses situations where spectators have sometimes been uncertain whether a ball was out or in.
Finally, with precisely a century of days to go until the start of the Championships, the AELTC have further revealed an increase in daily attendance at the qualifying competition in Roehampton.
